Posted on 03/06/2004 8:18:02 PM PST by 4.1O dana super trac pak
The Yuma U.S Border Patrol agent who died in the line of duty in December was honored by President George Bush during a ceremony that honored officers who have died while protecting the nations borders.
James Epling, 24, was also officially declared the first U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer to die in the line of duty since the agency's creation one year ago under the new Department of Homeland Security.
"We will never forget Agent Jimmy Epling, whose name is forever etched on the Customs and Border Protection Valor Memorial," said Robert Bonner, Customs and Border Protection commisioner, in a press release.
The Valor Memorial dedication took place on Tuesday in Washington D.C. to officially bring all past fallen border officers under the one-year-old U.S. Homeland Security flag.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President thanked the people working to secure the border and mentioned Epling's death and the family he left behind, which includes his wife Monica and their children.
"He risked his life to save a life," Bush said. "And on behalf of our nation, Monica and Seth and Shaine and Sean and James, and his loving parents, Ken and Amy, thank you for raising such a good son and thank you for having such a good husband; boys, you need to be proud of your daddy."
Epling drowned in the Colorado River on Dec. 16 while attempting to chase down four suspected illegal aliens. He had already helped save the life of an illegal alien from China.
'snip'
(Excerpt) Read more at yumasun.com ...
Meanwhile....
He was 24 years old, less than two years on the job, father of four.
Details on his death are still murky, as far as I am concerned.
Tancredo has been behind them all the way, of course.
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